Toothbrush



April 16, 1929.

v. H. HENDERHAN 1,709,262

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Sept. 2, 1927 l Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 'VINCENT H. `HENDEIB'HAJSI', 0F SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

TOOTHBRUSH.

Application led September 2, 1927. Serial No. 217,110.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tooth brushes and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved brush provided with a double head or brush portion thereon, which will enable both sides of the teeth and adjacent portions thereof to be brushed and cleansed simultaneously.

A very important feature of my invention resides in a new method of mounting the double heads so that the same may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the handle and somewhat laterally so that the cleansing paste may be introduced between the bristles of the two heads. y

Still another object of the invention resides in providing an improved brush which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very eflicient and useful'in operation.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is anenlarged detail section of the body or holder for the device with the end plug removed and partly in elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the slidable member removed.

Figure 4 is a transverse section seen on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the device. i

Figure 6 is a transverse section as seen on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a section of a slightly modified form of plug member.

In describing the invention, I shall refer to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 designates a hollow handle member which may be formed of any desired material, such as hard rubber, celluloid, celluloid composition or any of the known like substances, said member being open at one end and closed at the opposite end. This member 1 is provided in its wall intermediate of its ends with a slot 2 and mounted in said member for sliding movement therein is a cylindrical member 3 which fits snugly in said member 1 and is provided with a laterally pro ecting stud or finger piece 4 projecting s llg tly through the slot 2. The sliding cylmdrical member 3 is inserted in the member l1 through the open end thereof, said memably solid, in the one end of which is mounted two spaced apart and outwardly projecting spring arms 5 and 6. These spring arms may be in the form of wires or other material but preferably having a tendency to spring outwardly away from one another for a purpose to be hereinafter and more particularly set forth. The spring arms 5 and 6 taper to a greater width toward their outer ends and terminate'in brush heads 7 which are disposed at an angle to one another. The bristles 8 ofthese brush heads are shorter along one side edge of the brush heads than at the other so that the ends of the bristles of the respective brushes are in planes substantially parallel to one another.

The hollow holder or handle member 1 adjacent its open end is provided with an internal annular groove 9 and adapted to be fitted in this open end of the member 1 is a plug or the like 10. This plug is provided with an external substantially annular rib 11, which is adapted to be itted and received in the annular groove 9 when the plug 10 is sprung into the open end of said member 1. At diametrically opposite points thereon, the plug 10 is grooved longitudi- ,nally as shown at 12, which grooves also extend through the grooves 11 and these grooves permit the spring arms 5 and 6 to be extended therethrough.

In view of the tendency of the spring arms 5 and 6 to spring outwardly in opposite directions and the tapering of said arms 5 and 6 toward the outer ends, the drawing inwardly of the cylindrical sliding member 3 so that the stud 4 abutsthe innermost end of the slot 2 will cause the brush heads 7 to be drawn toward one another which is the proper position for use of the brush lon the teeth. l

Y When it is desired to cleanse the brush heads or separate them so that they may be cleansed or for the purpose of introducing cleansing material therebetween, it. is only necessary to move the stud 4 toward the opposite end of the slot 2 whereby the brush heads will spring apart to be acted upon as desired. l

I have shown and described the preferred form of plug 10 to be used but various modifications thereof may be adopted. In Figure 7, I have shown a slight modification of this plug which is in the form of a hollow member 13 having one yend thereof closed by means of an integral head 14. This head is substantially annular and has its edges projecting beyond the body of the plug 13 so that said edges form a rib to be introduced in the end of the hollow handle 1 and received in the annular groove 9 thereof. At diametrically opposite points 0n this head 14, I provide the grooves 15 which enable the springarms 5 and 6 to be received therethrough. Obviously, this form of plug or various modifications thereof may be used with the same good results being obtained.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the operation thereof will be readilyunderstood and it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resortcd to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a tooth brush of the classdescribed, a hollow handle `having one end thereof open, a slidable member within said handle, twin brush membersv having spring arms thereon extending through the open end of said handle and connected with said slidable member, said arms tapering in thickness from one end to the other and a plug fitted in the open end of said handle having grooves therein throughv which said arms project, as and for the purposes described.

2. In a tooth brush of the class described. a hollow handle having one end thereof open, a slidable member mounted in said handle, means for-manually moving said slidable member in said handle, twin brush members having tapering spring arms thereon, extending through the open end of said handle and connected with said slidable member, the normal tendency of said spring arms being to spread outwardly from one another and a plug member fitted in the open end of said handle having longitudinal grooves at diametrically opposite points thereon through which said spring arms cxtend, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

VINCENT H. HENDERHAN 

